(Post thanks to Amanda Smith, University of Southern California)
The first night of World Trials is underway in Indianapolis, Indiana. Only three events took place tonight, so there is not too much going on in regards to the roster selection.. yet.
Here is an easy way to follow the selection process in order of precedence:
1.The top 4 in the 100 & 200 freestyles and then the winner of each Olympic event will make the team
2. The second place finisher in the Olympic events will make the team
3. The winner of the NON-Olympic events will make the team (50s of the strokes, plus the W1500m FR & M800m FR) – if room
4. The 5th place finishers in 100 & 200 freestyles will earn a berth – if room
5. The 6th place finishers in 100 & 200 freestyles will earn a berth – if room
When you think of it like that, you really see how interesting the team selection may pan out over the next few days in Indianapolis. Those 26 spots for the men and women could fill up before we even get through all the Non-Olympic events, based on the amount of doubles we see from swimmers.
There were no “doubles” tonight, but we will see Missy Franklin, Tyler Clary, Ryan Lochte, Katie Ledecky, Matt Grevers, Nathan Adrian, Liz Pelton, and more from the list below compete again and possibly clinch a top spot. That would then create a “double” allowing another spot for a swimmer fitting in the latter selection criteria from above to make the team.
| Swimmer | Event | Place |
| Cammile Adams | W 200 Butterfly | 1st |
| Maya Dirado | W 200 Butterfly | 2nd |
| Tom Luchsinger | M 200 Butterfly | 1st |
| Tyler Clary | M 200 Butterfly | 2nd |
| Missy Franklin | W 100 Freestlye | 1st |
| Shannon Vreeland | W 100 Freestyle | 2nd |
| Simone Manuel | W 100 Freestyle | 3rd |
| Megan Romano | W 100 Freestyle | 4th |
| Natalie Coughlin | W 100 Freestyle | 5th |
| Liz Pelton | W 100 Freestyle | 6th |
| Nathan Adrian | M 100 Freestyle | 1st |
| Jimmy Feigen | M 100 Freestyle | 2nd |
| Anthony Ervin | M 100 Freestyle | 3rd |
| Ryan Lochte | M 100 Freestyle | 4th |
| Ricky Berens | M 100 Freestyle | 5th |
| Matt Grevers | M 100 Freestyle | 6th |
| Katie Ledecky | W 800 Freestyle | 1st |
| Chloe Sutton | W 800 Freestyle | 2nd |
| Connor Jaeger | M 1500 Freestyle | 1st |
| Michael McBroom | M 1500 Freestyle | 2nd |
*Tentative berths will be italicized until earned
Tonight 6 berths to Barcelona were earned from the men and women for Team USA – 20 more on each side to fill! Check back tomorrow night to see how the roster continues to unfold.
Without Phelps and many stars trimming the number of their events (eg. Vollmer not swimming 50 fly, etc), the berth could fill up quickly.
Some of these 5th and 6th placers may not go after all.
I meant 5th and 6th placers in 100/200 free
Another example:
Last year, there were more doubles – Schmitt in 200/400 and 100 free relay alternate, Beisel in 200 back, 200/400 Im (This year Pelton could steal away the 200 back and 200 IM), etc… there will be more people than the maximum 26 allowed methinks
I hope at least the 5th placers can go for the relays. People like Missy Franklin and Ryan Lochte will probably have a loaded schedule and need other people to swim for them in the relay prelims.
USA can only send 26 male swimmers and 26 female swimmers on the pool.
Priority No. 1 is winner of 13 olympic events and 6 additional swimmers for 400 free relay and 800 free relay.
If there is NO double champion and NO the other champion who’s got a berth in relay (it will not happen, I think), it will be 19 swimmers. And still there is maximum 11 (eleven) “2nd place” swimmers other than 100m free & 200m free (Priority No. 2). So there is total 30 swimmers, not enough room for all of them.
I think, Swimswam just want to make precaution that those 2nd place swimmer in Olympics events is not “safe” to go to Barcelona.… Read more »
That is in non-relay events, #2 is not a guaranteed slot.
I think there’s 5 priorities, not 4 like you write:
1-3…..
4. The 5th place finishers in 100 & 200 freestyles will earn a berth – if room
5. The 6th place finishers in 100 & 200 freestyles will earn a berth – if room
@Justin: it’s not about USA Swimming LET Coughlin in the relay. The problem is whether there is room for her within maximal 26 female swimmer who will be sent to Barcelona. She can go to Barcelona if and only if:
1. There’s is enough room for her as no. 4 priority (5th position in 100m free) as 4×100 free relay swimmer, and/or
2. She wins or no. 2 in 50m free.
I’m sure they’ll let Coughlin in on the relay, but Pelton I don’t know. Hope she makes it in the 200 or 100 back.
can you update this list so we can see who has officially made it and then the order of the people who would make it should people double up?
Yes! I plan on organizing like that as the meet unfolds. Tonight was pretty straight forward, so I didn’t get too deep into the chart organization. Thanks guys!!